Bethany Barton is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books for Penguin Random House. Barton's books combine colorful illustrations, humor, science communication and storytelling to make STEAM-related topics enjoyable for kids.
Bethany also has a busy career in the art, prop, and set decoration departments for film & TV— and in 2023, she was nominated for a Children's & Family Emmy in the category of Puppet Design & Styling for her work on The Muppets Mayhem.
Bethany is on a mission to make STEM learning fun, creative and accessible. “I seek out STEM topics that scare, intimidate or even bore people— and I inspire kids to face those subjects using superpowers like facts, humor, empathy and critical thinking. When we learn more about something we’d normally turn away from —when we find out what makes it special or important— we may just end up loving it (and spoiler alert: we usually do!)”
Bethany spends several weeks of the year touring and visiting elementary schools, libraries and educators all over the world to support literacy and STEM learning. She is available for author visits, mural visits, and speaking engagements.
In addition, she is actively involved with AccessBooks, a non-profit that works to put school libraries into Title 1 schools, and consults with The Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), who are leading the charge for early literacy access from the state of Tennessee.
In addition to her literacy work, Bethany is the co-founder of the non-profit DopaMind, which is dedicated to helping kids navigate their relationship with technology in the digital age.
Bethany’s 2015 book I’m Trying To Love Spiders (Viking/Penguin) garnered numerous awards and starred reviews, including the 2016 Children’s Choice Award 3rd/4th Grade Book of The Year.
Her 2017 book Give Bees A Chance (Viking/Penguin) was a 2017 SCIBA Award finalist, was listed in Scripps National Spelling Bee “Great Words, Great Works,” and was featured in the New York Times.
Her 2019 book, I'm Trying to Love Math (Viking/Penguin), was named an Amazon Best Book of 2019.
I’m Trying To Love Rocks (Viking/Penguin), hit stores in June of 2020 with 2 starred reviews, and the 2021 release I’m Trying to Love Garbage has been called “an engaging introduction to really grasping and dealing with trash” by School Library Journal.
Her newest release I’m Trying To Love Germs, hit stores in November of 2023. Bethany’s books have been translated into 4 languages.
As well as illustrating her own stories, Barton has illustrated for other authors, including Todd Hasak-Lowy’s middle grade novel 33 Minutes (Simon & Schuster.)
As a member of the motion picture union IATSE Local 44, her work in film & TV includes projects like: The Muppets Mayhem, Westworld, Obi-Wan-Kenobi, `black-ish, and The Middle. She is also an accomplished miniatures fabricator, and general maker-of-things.
Bethany is represented by a dashing fellow named Stephen Barr at Writers House in NYC. Mr. Barr is an undefeated limbo/karaoke champion.
When Bethany and her husband, Production Designer Michael Barton, aren't working on films or commercials together, they're busy laughing, eating guacamole, and enjoying the heck out of their son Leo.
Mission. In her books, Bethany is passionate about helping kids (and grown-ups too) face their fears using superpowers like facts and humor.
“When you learn more about something that scares you, you take away a lot of the mystery about that thing— and with it, a lot of the fear. Once you learn why the “scary thing” has to look, act, or be a certain way… you may even find yourself appreciating it!
Then, take it a step further: if you can learn to laugh at the thing that scares you, you take away all of it’s power.”
Empathy, truth, and connection is a large part of everything Bethany makes. Her creations are an attempt to "say what everyone is thinking" - and in doing so, help break down barriers... allowing people of every age to find commonalities; to connect; to identify with each other.
"I’m personally inspired by the things that all people have in common... by the thoughts and emotions we all share. When we draw attention to those things, we start to feel a kinship and a connection with other people. Like we’re all on the same team. It disarms us, helps us to break down our usual defense mechanisms and lets us enjoy just being a person with other people.
It’s my biggest compliment when someone says, “I’ve totally felt that way!” or “I’ve had that exact same thought!” That’s what I’m trying to do. To celebrate that we’re all the same in a lot of silly ways.”
You can follow more of Bethany's adventures via Instagram, and even her oft-forgotten Twitter (X?) or Facebook page (of which there are apparently two.)